Undertaker - John Cena 'Bloodiest Fight Ever' Survey Scam

Outline
Message being distributed on Facebook claims WWE wrestler Undertaker suffered a severe head injury in a fight with fellow wrestler John Cena and invites users to click a link to view a video of this "bloodiest fight ever on WWE'.



Brief Analysis
The claims in the message are false. Undertaker was not injured as claimed. Links in the message lead to a rogue Facebook application and a survey scam. Do not follow any links in these messages.

Last updated: November 20, 2012
First published: November 20, 2012
Article written by Brett M. Christensen
About Brett Christensen and Hoax-Slayer

Example


Detailed Analysis
According to a message that is currently moving rapidly across Facebook, Undertaker of WWE fame was severely injured in a wrestling bout with fellow WWE wrestler John Cena. The message claims that after the event, billed as the bloodiest fight ever on WWE, Undertaker was rushed to ICU with head injuries. The message claims that users can click a link to see a video of the fight.

However, the claims in the message are lies designed to trick unwary users into clicking the included link. Undertaker has not been injured as claimed and the link does not open a video. Those who fall for the ruse and click the link will be first asked to provide permission to a Facebook application as shown in the following screenshot:


If users allow permission as requested, the rogue app will automatically post the same bogus message onto their wall, thereby enticing their friends to get caught by the scam as well.

After the rogue app is installed, a new page opens that supposedly contains the promised video. However, users are told that they must perform a "security check" by participating in a survey before being allowed to watch the video:

Some of these "survey" pages ask users to provide personal information including name, address and contact details, ostensibly to allow them to go in the draw for a prize. Others invite them to download dubious toolbars, games or software. Still others will claim that users must provide their mobile phone number - thereby subscribing to absurdly expensive text messaging services - in order to get the results of a survey or go in the running for a prize.

Even after users complete a survey and return to the bogus "video" page, the following message will be displayed:

In fact, no matter how many offers or surveys they complete, or what services they subscribe to, victims will never get to see the fight video, which does not exist. Undertaker, John Cena and Rey Mysterio have all been targeted in other such scam messages in recent weeks.

The scammers who create these bogus promotions will earn commissions via suspect affiliate marketing schemes each and every time a victim completes an offer or participates in a survey. Victims may also be faced with large phone bills for unwanted mobile phone services and, because they have provided name and contact details, they may be inundated with unwanted promotional emails, phone calls and junk mail.

Survey scams like this one are extremely common. Be very cautious of any message that appears on your Facebook wall that claims that a celebrity has died or been injured and claims that you can click a link to read more information or watch a video.


References
Wrestling Star Undertaker is NOT Dead
Wrestling Star John Cena is NOT Dead
Rey Mysterio is NOT Dead
Facebook Survey Scams

Last updated: November 20, 2012
First published: November 20, 2012
Article written by Brett M. Christensen
About Brett Christensen and Hoax-Slayer